PEM-based water electrolysis hydrogen production container thermal management system and method

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of PEM water electrolysis hydrogen production, and provides a PEM water electrolysis hydrogen production-based container thermal management system and method.The PEM water electrolysis hydrogen production-based container thermal management system comprises a heat source collection module, a distribution module of a heating circulation module and an intelligent control module, and through heat collection of the heat source collection module, distribution of the heating circulation module and precise control of the intelligent control module, the heat source collection module and the heating circulation module are integrated; the problems that a container type PEM water electrolysis hydrogen production system is difficult to start in a cold region, the efficiency is low, and the service life of equipment is shortened are thoroughly solved; waste heat generated in the hydrogen production process of the PEM electrolytic cell is used as a main heat source for heating the container, gradient utilization of energy is achieved by taking waste as treasure, independent heating equipment is omitted, the system structure is simplified, extra energy consumption is reduced, and the operation cost of the system is greatly reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of PEM electrolysis for hydrogen production, and in particular to a container thermal management system and method for PEM electrolysis for hydrogen production. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of the hydrogen energy industry, PEM (proton exchange membrane) water electrolysis hydrogen production technology has been widely used in the renewable energy hydrogen production field due to its advantages such as fast start-up speed, high hydrogen purity, and good responsiveness. To meet the needs of large-scale, modular deployment, containerized PEM water electrolysis hydrogen production systems have become the mainstream. However, the low-temperature environment in cold regions during winter (extreme temperatures can reach below -30℃) poses many challenges to the stable operation of containerized PEM water electrolysis hydrogen production systems.

[0003] (1) Difficulty in starting up: The conductivity of the proton exchange membrane in the PEM electrolyzer decreases at low temperatures, and the electrolyte solution is easily frozen, which leads to the need for long preheating when starting up the system, or even the inability to start up.

[0004] (2) Low efficiency: In order to maintain the normal working temperature of the electrolyzer (usually needs to be maintained at 60-65℃), the system needs to consume a lot of extra energy for heating. At the same time, the internal space of the container is compact and the insulation performance is poor, and the heat is lost quickly, which further reduces the hydrogen production efficiency.

[0005] (3) Shortened equipment lifespan: Low temperature shock and temperature fluctuation will exacerbate the corrosion of electrolytic cell plates and the aging of seals. At the same time, the freezing of water in the pipeline can easily lead to equipment breakage, significantly shortening the overall service life of the system.

[0006] (4) Deficiencies of existing solutions: Currently, most PEM hydrogen production systems for cold regions use pure electric heating or independent fuel oil heating equipment, which not only have high energy consumption (electric heating energy consumption accounts for 15%-25% of the total system energy consumption) and high operating costs, but also increase system complexity and cannot adapt to the space constraints and integration requirements of containerized structures.

[0007] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a low-energy-consumption, highly integrated thermal management solution specifically designed for containerized PEM water electrolysis hydrogen production systems to address the core pain points of system operation in cold regions. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of existing containerized PEM electrolysis water hydrogen production systems in cold regions, and to provide a containerized thermal management system and method based on PEM electrolysis water hydrogen production. Through the energy cascade utilization of "waste as treasure", the system achieves synergy between waste heat recovery and container heating, thereby reducing energy consumption, simplifying the structure, and improving system stability and lifespan.

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a container thermal management system for hydrogen production based on PEM electrolysis, comprising:

[0010] The heat source acquisition module includes a PEM electrolytic cell and a plate heat exchanger. The PEM electrolytic cell is equipped with a cooling circulation loop, and the plate heat exchanger is connected in series with the cooling circulation loop of the PEM electrolytic cell to transfer the waste heat carried in the cooling circulation water of the PEM electrolytic cell to the heating circulation module.

[0011] The heating circulation module is used to accurately distribute the heat acquired by the heat source acquisition module to different heating terminals. The heating circulation module includes a circulating water pump, a three-way regulating valve, and insulated pipes. The circulating water pump includes a first circulating water pump, a second circulating water pump, and a third circulating water pump. The first and second circulating water pumps are connected in series in the insulated pipes at the outlet and inlet of the plate heat exchanger, respectively. The third circulating water pump is connected in series in the insulated pipe connected to the outlet of the external radiator. The three valve ports of the three-way regulating valve are respectively connected to the insulated pipe connected to the outlet of the plate heat exchanger, the insulated pipe connected to the inlet of the heating terminal module inside the container, and the insulated pipe connected to the inlet of the external radiator. The insulated pipes connected to the outlet of the heating terminal module inside the container and the insulated pipe connected to the outlet of the external radiator are both connected to the insulated pipe connected to the inlet of the plate heat exchanger, forming a heating circulation loop.

[0012] The container heating terminal module is used to transfer heat from the heating circulating water to the interior space of the container, maintain the internal ambient temperature within a preset range, and provide a suitable environment for the stable operation of the PEM water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment and the operation of personnel (if there is an inspection requirement); the container heating terminal module includes fan coil units and / or coil radiators.

[0013] The intelligent control module includes temperature sensors and a controller. The temperature sensors include a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a third temperature sensor. The first temperature sensor is deployed inside the container to monitor the internal ambient temperature. The second temperature sensor is deployed at the inlet of the electrolytic cell to monitor the temperature of the cooling circulating water entering the electrolytic cell. The third temperature sensor is deployed at the outlet connection between the heating terminal module inside the container and the external radiator to monitor the temperature of the hot water entering the heating system after heat exchange via the plate heat exchanger. The controller uses a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) with a built-in temperature control algorithm based on the first... The deviation between the real-time temperature fed back by the temperature sensor and the set temperature (15-25℃ inside the container, 50-60℃ at the inlet of the electrolytic cell) is automatically generated by the temperature control algorithm based on the magnitude and trend of the temperature deviation. The control commands are then sent to the three-way regulating valve and the circulating water pump. The control commands precisely adjust the opening of the three-way regulating valve within the range of 0-100%, enabling dynamic adjustment of the ratio of hot water flow to the heating terminals inside the container and to the external radiators. The control commands also adjust the speed of the circulating water pump within the range of 30%-100%, enabling dynamic adaptation of the circulation flow rate and ensuring that the heat transfer efficiency matches the heating demand.

[0014] Furthermore, if there are localized low-temperature areas inside the container (such as near the hatch), the heating terminal module inside the container uses fan coil units to quickly raise the temperature through forced convection.

[0015] If the space inside the container is open, the heating terminal module inside the container adopts a coil radiator to provide uniform heating through natural convection.

[0016] Furthermore, the plate heat exchanger installed at the inlet pipe of the PEM electrolysis cell is a stainless steel plate heat exchanger.

[0017] If the cooling circulating water contains trace amounts of acidic media, a titanium plate heat exchanger should be selected.

[0018] Furthermore, the insulated pipe includes a pipe body, an insulation layer, and a galvanized iron sheet protective layer, wherein the insulation layer is disposed between the pipe body and the galvanized iron sheet protective layer;

[0019] The thickness of the insulation layer shall not be less than 50mm;

[0020] The insulation layer includes one or more of the following: polyurethane foam insulation layer, centrifugal glass wool insulation layer, layered rock wool insulation layer, and aerogel insulation felt.

[0021] Preferably, the temperature sensor includes a platinum resistance sensor (with strong anti-interference capability), an NTC thermistor sensor (suitable for rapid monitoring of local temperature changes), and a thermocouple sensor (K type) (adapted to the slight vibration environment during fan coil unit operation), with a measurement accuracy of ±0.5℃.

[0022] Furthermore, the heating circulation module also includes a solar collector branch, which is connected in parallel to the inlet and outlet of the plate heat exchanger;

[0023] The solar collector branch includes a solar collector, a light sensor, a fourth circulating water pump, and an electric two-way valve. The inlet of the solar collector is connected to the inlet of the plate heat exchanger via an insulated pipe, and the outlet of the solar collector is also connected to the inlet of the plate heat exchanger via an insulated pipe. A fourth circulating water pump and an electric two-way valve are connected in series at the inlet of the solar collector, and the electric two-way valve is connected to a controller. A fourth temperature sensor is installed at the outlet of the solar collector to monitor the temperature of the hot water treated by the solar collector. The solar collector is connected to the light sensor, which is also connected to the controller. The hot water treated by the solar collector branch is mixed with the wastewater produced by the plate heat exchanger to jointly increase the heating water temperature.

[0024] Furthermore, the heating circulation module also includes an auxiliary heating branch, which is connected in series between the outlet connection of the heating terminal module inside the container and the external radiator and the inlet of the plate heat exchanger.

[0025] The auxiliary heating branch includes an auxiliary heater and a fifth temperature sensor; the fifth temperature sensor is located at the outlet of the auxiliary heater and is used to monitor the temperature of the hot water after it has been heated by the auxiliary heater.

[0026] Furthermore, the thermal management system includes:

[0027] Start-up preheating mode: When the thermal management system starts cold, the solar collector or auxiliary electric heater is activated for preheating. After preheating is completed, it switches to normal constant temperature mode.

[0028] Normal constant temperature mode: The constant temperature is maintained by the waste heat of the PEM electrolytic cell, and no auxiliary heating is required;

[0029] High-temperature heat dissipation mode: When the environment is hot or there is excessive heat generation, heat is dissipated through an external radiator;

[0030] Standby antifreeze mode: When the thermal management system is shut down and the temperature is low, it maintains minimum water circulation or intermittently starts heating to prevent freezing.

[0031] Furthermore, the switching condition for starting the preheating mode is that the temperature inside the container rises to 15°C and the temperature of the PEM electrolyzer rises to 30°C; that is, the temperature monitored by the first temperature sensor is 15°C and the temperature monitored by the first temperature sensor rises to 30°C.

[0032] The switching condition for the high-temperature heat dissipation mode is that the temperature of the heating circulating water monitored by the third temperature sensor exceeds 70°C.

[0033] The auxiliary electric heater in the standby antifreeze mode starts at intervals of 30-60 minutes, with each start-up lasting 10-15 minutes.

[0034] Furthermore, the thermal management system is suitable for an ambient temperature range of -30°C to 40°C.

[0035] On the other hand, the present invention also provides a thermal management method for a container for hydrogen production based on PEM water electrolysis, the thermal management method comprising:

[0036] (1) Heat collection stage: When the PEM electrolyzer is working, it generates waste heat. Cooling circulating water flows in the cooling circulation loop in the PEM electrolyzer. After absorbing the waste heat, the temperature of the cooling circulating water rises to 65-85℃ and then flows into the plate heat exchanger.

[0037] (2) Heat transfer stage: The plate heat exchanger transfers the waste heat in the cooling circulating water to the heating circulating loop, raising the water temperature in the heating circulating loop to 55-75℃.

[0038] (3) Heat distribution stage: Based on the deviation between the internal temperature of the container and the set temperature fed back by the first temperature sensor, the controller drives the three-way regulating valve to adjust the ratio of hot water flow to the heating terminal inside the container and the external radiator:

[0039] If the temperature inside the container is lower than the set value (e.g., below 15℃), the three-way regulating valve directs 80%-100% of the hot water to the heating terminal module inside the container, which then heats the container. If the temperature inside the container reaches the set value and the PEM electrolyzer generates excess heat (e.g., the heating circulating water temperature exceeds 75℃), the three-way regulating valve directs 50%-90% of the hot water to the external radiator to dissipate the excess heat.

[0040] (4) Constant temperature maintenance stage: The controller monitors the temperature change sensed by the first sensor in real time, and dynamically adjusts the opening of the three-way valve and the speed of the circulating pump to ensure that the internal temperature of the container is stable at the first target temperature (15-25℃) and the inlet temperature of the PEM electrolysis cell is stable at the second target temperature (50-60℃).

[0041] The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0042] (1) This invention completely solves the problems of difficult start-up, low efficiency and shortened equipment life of containerized PEM water electrolysis hydrogen production system in cold regions by heat collection by heat source acquisition module, distribution by heating circulation module and precise control by intelligent control module;

[0043] (2) This invention uses the waste heat generated by the PEM electrolyzer during the hydrogen production process as the main heat source for container heating. It achieves the cascade utilization of energy by "turning waste into treasure", eliminates the need for independent heating equipment, simplifies the system structure, reduces additional energy consumption, and significantly reduces the operating cost of the system.

[0044] (3) Each module of the present invention is designed with full consideration of the compact internal space of the container. The overall structure is highly integrated and the installation area only accounts for 5%-8% of the internal space of the container. There is no need to carry out large-scale modification of the container or additional expansion of the site. It perfectly adapts to the modular deployment requirements of the container-type PEM water electrolysis hydrogen production system, which facilitates the transportation, installation and maintenance of the system.

[0045] (4) The intelligent control module in this invention can automatically switch working modes according to different working conditions and adjust various operating parameters in real time to ensure that the system can operate stably in a wide range of ambient temperatures from -30℃ to 40℃; the temperature control accuracy can reach ±1℃, effectively avoiding the impact of temperature fluctuations on equipment operation and hydrogen production efficiency, effectively reducing the system failure rate, and improving the reliability and safety of the entire thermal management system. Attached Figure Description

[0046] Figure 1 This is a connection diagram of the thermal management system in Example 1. Detailed Implementation

[0047] The technical solution of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments. However, these embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention. Any similar structures and similar variations of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention. The commas in the present invention all indicate the relationship between and. The English letters in the present invention are case-sensitive.

[0048] Example 1

[0049] like Figure 1 As shown, this embodiment provides a container thermal management system for hydrogen production based on PEM water electrolysis, including:

[0050] The heat source acquisition module includes a PEM electrolyzer 1 and a plate heat exchanger 2. The PEM electrolyzer 1 is equipped with a cooling circulation loop, and the plate heat exchanger 2 is connected in series with the cooling circulation loop of the PEM electrolyzer to transfer the waste heat carried in the cooling circulation water of the PEM electrolyzer 1 to the heating circulation module. During the process of producing hydrogen by electrolyzing water, the PEM electrolyzer 1 will continuously generate waste heat due to the irreversibility of the electrochemical reaction and ohmic losses. If it is not removed in time, it will cause the temperature of the electrolyzer to be too high, which will damage the stability of the proton exchange membrane, reduce the electrolysis efficiency, or even damage the equipment. Therefore, the cooling circulating water continuously flows through the internal cooling channels of the electrolytic cell, directly absorbing the waste heat generated by the electrolytic cell and maintaining the temperature of the electrolytic cell within a safe operating range. The plate heat exchanger connected in series in the cooling circulation loop uses the temperature difference between the hot and cold fluids to achieve heat transfer. After the cooling circulating water carrying waste heat enters the plate heat exchanger, it exchanges heat with the cold water in the heating circulation module, efficiently transferring the waste heat to the heating circulating water, thus completing the collection and transfer of waste heat. After heat exchange, the temperature of the cooling circulating water decreases and it flows back to the PEM electrolytic cell to continue performing the cooling and heat dissipation task. Meanwhile, the heating circulating water that has absorbed waste heat heats up and enters the subsequent heat distribution and transportation module. To ensure heat exchange efficiency, the plate heat exchanger is made of corrosion-resistant stainless steel with excellent thermal conductivity and is equipped with a detachable structure for easy cleaning and maintenance, preventing scale buildup from affecting the heat exchange effect.

[0051] A heating circulation module is used to accurately distribute the heat acquired by the heat source acquisition module to different heating terminals. The heating circulation module includes a circulating water pump, a three-way regulating valve 3, and insulated pipes. The circulating water pump includes a first circulating water pump 4, a second circulating water pump 5, and a third circulating water pump 19. The first and second circulating water pumps 4 and 5 are respectively connected in series on the insulated pipes at the outlet and inlet of the plate heat exchanger 2. The third circulating water pump 19 is connected in series on the insulated pipe connecting to the outlet of the external radiator. The three valve ports of the three-way regulating valve 3 are respectively connected to the outlet of the plate heat exchanger 2. The insulated pipes connected to the outlet, the insulated pipes connected to the inlet of the heating terminal module inside the container, and the insulated pipes connected to the inlet of the external radiator 6 are all connected to the insulated pipes connected to the inlet of the plate heat exchanger 2, forming a heating circulation loop; wherein, the plate heat exchanger 2 installed at the inlet pipe of the PEM electrolysis cell is a stainless steel plate heat exchanger; if the cooling circulation water contains trace amounts of acidic media, the plate heat exchanger 2 selected is a titanium plate heat exchanger.

[0052] The circulating water pump provides power to the heating circulation system, driving the circulating water to flow within the insulated pipes. The selected circulating water pump matches the system's maximum circulation flow and head requirements, ensuring that hot water can flow smoothly through heat exchangers, heating terminals, and various pipelines. To adapt to flow requirements under different operating conditions, the circulating water pump adopts a variable frequency control method, which can adjust the speed according to changes in system load, reducing energy consumption while ensuring heating needs are met. Circulating water pumps can be selected from horizontal centrifugal pumps (suitable for fixed installation at the bottom of containers), vertical pipeline pumps (suitable for scenarios with compact internal space in containers), and magnetically driven centrifugal pumps (suitable for fixed installation at the bottom of containers), with a speed adjustment range of 30%-100%.

[0053] The three-way regulating valve 3 is located between the plate heat exchanger outlet, the heating terminal (inside the container), and the external radiator 6. It is used to precisely regulate the flow ratio of hot water to the heating terminal inside the container and the external radiator, thereby achieving precise control of heat supply to different heating areas. When the temperature inside the container is low, the three-way regulating valve increases the flow ratio to the internal heating terminal, enhancing the internal heating intensity. When the inlet temperature of the electrolytic cell is low, and priority needs to be given to ensuring the preheating of the electrolytic cell, the flow ratio can be adjusted to tilt towards the relevant preheating circuit. When there is excess waste heat in the system, the flow ratio to the external radiator is increased to dissipate excess heat and prevent the system from overheating.

[0054] The insulated pipe includes a pipe body, an insulation layer, and a galvanized iron sheet protective layer, wherein the insulation layer is disposed between the pipe body and the galvanized iron sheet protective layer.

[0055] The thickness of the insulation layer shall not be less than 50mm;

[0056] The insulation layer includes one or more of the following: polyurethane foam insulation layer, centrifugal glass wool insulation layer, layered rock wool insulation layer, and aerogel insulation felt. The polyurethane foam insulation layer possesses excellent thermal insulation performance, a low thermal conductivity, and its thickness is strictly controlled to be no less than 50mm to ensure insulation requirements are met under different ambient temperatures. The outer galvanized iron sheet protective layer not only effectively protects the insulation layer from external mechanical damage and moisture erosion but also provides good corrosion resistance, extending the pipeline's service life. Through this insulation structure design, the heat loss rate during pipeline transportation can be strictly controlled below 3%, significantly improving the system's energy utilization efficiency.

[0057] The container heating terminal module is used to transfer heat from the heating circulating water to the interior space of the container, maintaining the internal ambient temperature within a preset range, and providing a suitable environment for the stable operation of the PEM water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment and personnel operation (if inspection is required). The container heating terminal module includes fan coil units and / or coil radiators 7. If there are local low-temperature areas inside the container (such as near the hatch), the container heating terminal module uses fan coil units to quickly heat up through forced convection. If the space inside the container is open, the container heating terminal module uses coil radiators to provide uniform heating through natural convection.

[0058] Among them, fan coil units have the advantages of "high heat dissipation efficiency and fast temperature adjustment response." An internal fan drives airflow through the coil, exchanging heat with the hot water inside. The heated air is then blown into the container, achieving rapid temperature rise. Simultaneously, the fan coil unit can adjust the fan speed to achieve different airflow outputs, adapting to different heating load requirements. Coil radiators, on the other hand, are characterized by "simple structure, stable operation, and low maintenance costs." They release heat through natural convection and radiation heat exchange between the tube wall and the air, making them suitable for areas with high noise control requirements and relatively stable heating loads. The arrangement of the heating terminals, combined with the placement of equipment within the container, rationally plans the installation points of the heat dissipation components to ensure uniform temperature throughout the container, avoiding localized overheating or undercooling. Furthermore, all heating terminals are equipped with removable dust covers for easy daily cleaning and maintenance, ensuring effective heat dissipation.

[0059] The intelligent control module includes temperature sensors and a controller 11. The temperature sensors include a first temperature sensor 8, a second temperature sensor 9, and a third temperature sensor 10. The first temperature sensor 8 is deployed inside the container to monitor the internal ambient temperature. The second temperature sensor 9 is deployed at the inlet of the electrolytic cell to monitor the temperature of the cooling circulating water entering the electrolytic cell. The third temperature sensor 10 is deployed at the outlet connection between the heating terminal module inside the container and the external radiator 6 to monitor the temperature of the hot water entering the heating system after heat exchange via the plate heat exchanger 2. The controller 11 uses a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) with a built-in temperature control algorithm. Based on the deviation between the real-time temperature fed back by the first temperature sensor 8 and the set temperature (the set temperature inside the container is 15-25℃, and the set temperature at the inlet of the electrolytic cell is 50-60℃), and according to the magnitude and trend of the temperature deviation, the temperature control algorithm automatically generates control commands and outputs them to the three-way regulating valve 3 and the circulating water pump. The control commands control the opening of the three-way regulating valve 3 to change precisely within the range of 0-100%, thereby dynamically adjusting the ratio of hot water flow to the heating terminal inside the container and to the external radiator. The control commands also control the speed of the circulating water pump to change within the range of 30%-100%, thereby dynamically adapting the circulation flow rate and ensuring that the heat transfer efficiency matches the heating demand.

[0060] Preferably, the temperature sensor includes a platinum resistance sensor (with strong anti-interference capability), an NTC thermistor sensor (suitable for rapid monitoring of local temperature changes), and a thermocouple sensor (K type) (adapted to the slight vibration environment during fan coil unit operation), with a measurement accuracy of ±0.5℃.

[0061] Preferably, the heating circulation module further includes a solar collector branch, which is connected in parallel to the inlet and outlet of the plate heat exchanger;

[0062] The solar heat collection branch includes a solar collector 12, a light sensor 13, a fourth circulation pump 14, and an electric two-way valve 15; the inlet of the solar collector 12 is connected to the heat preservation pipeline that is connected to the inlet of the plate heat exchanger 2, and the outlet of the solar collector 12 is connected to the heat preservation pipeline that is connected to the inlet of the plate heat exchanger 2; a fourth circulation pump 14 and an electric two-way valve 15 are also connected in series at the inlet of the solar collector 12, and the electric two-way valve 15 is connected to the controller 11; a fourth temperature sensor 16 is also provided at the outlet of the solar collector 12 for monitoring the hot water temperature after being processed by the solar collector 12; the solar collector 12 is connected to the light sensor 13, and the light sensor 13 is also connected to the controller 11. When the light intensity ≥ 400 W / ㎡ (detected by the light sensor supporting the collector) and the temperature inside the container < 15 °C, the electric two-way valve 13 is opened, and the fourth circulation pump is started, and part of the heating water (flow rate 0.3 - 0.5 m³ / h) in the main water circuit (the water circuit near the inlet of the plate heat exchanger) is introduced into the solar collector for heating, and after being heated, it flows back to the main water supply pipe (the water circuit near the outlet of the plate heat exchanger), and is mixed with the waste hot water produced by the plate heat exchanger to jointly increase the heating water temperature. It is applicable to spring and autumn seasons and sunny days in winter (average daily sunlight ≥ 6 h), and can replace more than 80% of the auxiliary electric heating energy consumption. During the day, the preheating demand can be fully met through this connection method. The light sensor (measurement range 0 - 2000 W / ㎡, accuracy ±5%) is supporting the solar collector, and the fourth temperature sensor (PT100 type, measurement range 0 - 100 °C) are both connected to the analog input port of the controller (such as Mitsubishi FX3U); the electric two-way valve 15 and the fourth circulation pump 14 are through the digital output port of the relay controller. When the system is in the "start preheating mode", and the light intensity ≥ 400 W / ㎡ and the water outlet temperature of the solar collector 12 > 40 °C, the PLC preferentially opens the solar collector branch and closes the auxiliary electric heater; if the light intensity < 300 W / ㎡ or the water outlet temperature of the solar collector < 3..5 °C (unable to meet the preheating demand), the solar heat collection branch is automatically closed, and the auxiliary electric heater is started to avoid ineffective energy consumption.

[0063] Preferably, the heating circulation module further includes an auxiliary heating branch, and the auxiliary heating branch is connected in series between the connection at the outlet of the heating end module inside the container and the external radiator 6 and the inlet of the plate heat exchanger 2;

[0064] The auxiliary heating branch includes an auxiliary heater 17 and a fifth temperature sensor 18. The fifth temperature sensor 18 is located at the outlet of the auxiliary heater 17 and is used to monitor the temperature of the hot water heated by the auxiliary heater 17. When the heating water temperature in the main water circuit (the water circuit near the inlet of the plate heat exchanger) is <45℃ (e.g., when there is no waste heat during the cold start of the PEM electrolyzer and the solar collector's supplementary heating is insufficient), and the temperature inside the container is <12℃, the auxiliary electric heater 17 starts, heating the cold water (temperature approximately 20-30℃) in the cooling circulation loop to 50-55℃, and then the circulating water pump delivers it to the plate heat exchanger 2 or the heating terminal to quickly raise the system temperature. The fifth temperature sensor 18 (PT100 type) and the pressure switch signal of the auxiliary heater are both connected to the controller; the power contactor of the auxiliary electric heater 17 is controlled through the PLC digital output port. In "Start-up Preheating Mode", if the solar collector cannot meet the demand (e.g., at night or on cloudy days), when the water temperature in the main water circuit (the water circuit near the inlet of the plate heat exchanger) is detected to be <40℃ and the PEM electrolyzer temperature is <25℃, the controller starts the auxiliary electric heater and sets the target water temperature to 55℃; when the water temperature rises to 55℃ or the PEM electrolyzer temperature is ≥30℃, the heater automatically shuts off; in "Standby Antifreeze Mode", if the pipe water temperature is <5℃, the heater is controlled to start intermittently (each start for 10 minutes, with a 30-minute interval) to maintain the water temperature ≥5℃ and prevent freezing.

[0065] The thermal management system has multiple operating modes, including:

[0066] Preheating mode: Suitable for cold starts of the thermal management system, i.e., when the temperature inside the container is below 5℃ or the temperature of the electrolytic cell is below 10℃. Solar collector 12 or auxiliary electric heater 17 is activated first for preheating (power not exceeding 5kW). After preheating, it switches to normal constant temperature mode. This preheats the air inside the container and the electrolytic cell. During preheating, the controller controls the circulating pump to run at low speed (30%-50% speed) to slowly raise the temperature of the heating circulating water, avoiding low-temperature shock. When the temperature inside the container rises to 15℃ and the temperature of the electrolytic cell rises to 30℃, it switches to normal constant temperature mode, i.e., when the temperature monitored by the first temperature sensor is 15℃ and the temperature monitored by the first temperature sensor rises to 30℃. Compared to pure electric heating, the preheating mode reduces energy consumption by 40%-60%.

[0067] Normal constant temperature mode: Suitable for normal hydrogen production operation (stable hydrogen production in the electrolyzer, container temperature 15-25℃), relying entirely on waste heat from the PEM electrolyzer to maintain constant temperature, without the need for auxiliary heating; the circulating pump operates at 60%-80% of its rated speed, and the three-way regulating valve dynamically adjusts the flow rate ratio according to the temperature deviation to maintain a stable temperature inside the container and in the electrolyzer; in this mode, no auxiliary heating equipment is required, achieving "zero additional energy consumption" for heating.

[0068] High-temperature heat dissipation mode: Suitable for high-temperature environments in summer (external container temperature exceeds 30℃) or when the electrolytic cell is operating at full load and generating excessive heat (heating circulating water temperature exceeds 75℃); when the environment is high-temperature or there is excess heat generation, heat is dissipated through external radiators; the controller controls the three-way regulating valve to direct 70%-90% of the hot water to the external radiators, and at the same time starts the radiator fan (if equipped) to accelerate heat dissipation; the circulating pump runs at its rated speed to ensure that excess heat is quickly discharged, avoiding excessively high temperatures inside the container that could affect equipment operation; when the heating circulating water temperature drops below 65℃, it switches back to normal constant temperature mode.

[0069] Standby anti-freeze mode: Suitable for system shutdown (e.g., maintenance, no hydrogen production at night) and ambient temperature below 0℃, maintaining minimum water circulation or intermittently starting heating to prevent freezing. The controller controls the circulation pump to maintain minimum flow (30% speed), allowing the heating circulating water to flow slowly in the pipes to prevent freezing; if the ambient temperature is below -15℃, the auxiliary electric heater is intermittently started (each start time 10-15 minutes, interval 30-60 minutes) to ensure that the water temperature in the pipes is not lower than 5℃; the energy consumption of this mode is only 20%-30% of that of pure electric heating anti-freeze mode.

[0070] The thermal management system can automatically switch working modes according to different operating conditions and adjust various operating parameters in real time to ensure that the system can operate stably in a wide ambient temperature range of -30℃ to 40℃. The temperature control accuracy can reach ±1℃, which effectively avoids the impact of temperature fluctuations on equipment operation and hydrogen production efficiency, effectively reduces the system failure rate, and improves the reliability and safety of the entire thermal management system.

[0071] Example 2

[0072] This embodiment provides a thermal management method for a container-based hydrogen production system using PEM electrolysis, the thermal management method comprising:

[0073] (1) Heat collection stage: When the PEM electrolyzer is working, it generates waste heat. Cooling circulating water flows in the cooling circulation loop in the PEM electrolyzer. After absorbing the waste heat, the temperature of the cooling circulating water rises to 65-85℃ and then flows into the plate heat exchanger.

[0074] (2) Heat transfer stage: The plate heat exchanger transfers the waste heat in the cooling circulating water to the heating circulating loop, raising the water temperature in the heating circulating loop to 55-75℃.

[0075] (3) Heat distribution stage: Based on the deviation between the internal temperature of the container and the set temperature fed back by the first temperature sensor, the controller drives the three-way regulating valve to adjust the ratio of hot water flow to the heating terminal inside the container and the external radiator:

[0076] If the temperature inside the container is lower than the set value (e.g., below 15℃), the three-way regulating valve directs 80%-100% of the hot water to the heating terminal module inside the container, which then heats the container. If the temperature inside the container reaches the set value and the PEM electrolyzer generates excess heat (e.g., the heating circulating water temperature exceeds 75℃), the three-way regulating valve directs 50%-90% of the hot water to the external radiator to dissipate the excess heat.

[0077] (4) Constant temperature maintenance stage: The controller monitors the temperature change sensed by the first sensor in real time, and dynamically adjusts the opening of the three-way valve and the speed of the circulating pump to ensure that the internal temperature of the container is stable at the first target temperature (15-25℃) and the inlet temperature of the PEM electrolysis cell is stable at the second target temperature (50-60℃).

[0078] Example: A containerized PEM hydrogen production container thermal management system for a wind farm.

[0079] The thermal management system includes a 1MW PEM electrolyzer, a 40-foot container (12m long × 2.4m wide × 2.6m high), a plate heat exchanger (5㎡ heat exchange area) for the heat source acquisition module, a variable frequency circulation pump (1.5kW rated power) and an electric three-way regulating valve (DN50) for the heating circulation module, and two fan coil units (0.8kW each) installed in the middle of the container and four coil radiators (10㎡ heat dissipation area each) installed on both sides for the heating terminal module. The intelligent control module uses a Siemens S7-1200 PLC, and the temperature sensor is a PT100 type. An auxiliary heater is connected in series between the outlet connection of the heating terminal module inside the container and the outlet of the external radiator and the inlet of the plate heat exchanger; the outlet of the auxiliary heater is equipped with a fifth temperature sensor to monitor the temperature of the hot water heated by the auxiliary heater.

[0080] Operational testing (winter low-temperature conditions, ambient temperature -25℃):

[0081] Start preheating mode: Activate the auxiliary electric heater (power 5kW). After 30 minutes, the temperature inside the container rises to 18℃ and the temperature of the PEM electrolysis cell rises to 35℃. Then switch to normal constant temperature mode.

[0082] Normal constant temperature mode: waste heat from the PEM electrolyzer meets the heating demand, the circulation pump speed is 60%, the three-way regulating valve guides the flow rate at the heating terminal to 90%, the temperature inside the container is stable at 20±1℃, the inlet temperature of the PEM electrolyzer is stable at 55±1℃, and the hydrogen production efficiency reaches 78% (the efficiency of the traditional pure electric heating system is 68%).

[0083] High temperature heat dissipation mode: When the ambient temperature rises to 25℃ at noon, the flow rate directed to the external radiator by the three-way regulating valve accounts for 80%, and the temperature of the heating circulating water is stable at 65℃ without overheating.

[0084] Standby antifreeze mode: After the system stops, the circulating pump maintains a speed of 30%, the auxiliary electric heater starts for 10 minutes every 30 minutes, the water temperature in the pipes is stable at 8℃, and there is no freezing phenomenon;

[0085] Energy consumption comparison: During winter operation, the system's additional heating energy consumption is only 500 kWh / day, while the traditional pure electric heating system consumes 2500 kWh / day, reducing energy consumption by 80% and saving approximately 12,000 yuan in electricity costs per month. This invention uses the waste heat generated during hydrogen production in the PEM electrolyzer as the main heat source for container heating, achieving cascaded energy utilization by "turning waste into treasure," eliminating the need for independent heating equipment, and simplifying the system structure. Compared with traditional pure electric heating solutions, the system's additional energy consumption is reduced by 70%-90%, significantly lowering the system's operating costs.

[0086] Although preferred embodiments of this application have been described, those skilled in the art, upon learning the basic inventive concept, can make other changes and modifications to these embodiments. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to be interpreted as including the preferred embodiments as well as all changes and modifications falling within the scope of this application.

Claims

1. A PEM-based electrolytic water-splitting hydrogen production container thermal management system, characterized in that, The application relates to a heat source collection module, a heating circulation module, an intelligent control module and a container internal heating terminal module. The heat source collection module comprises a PEM electrolytic cell and a plate heat exchanger, the PEM electrolytic cell is provided with a cooling circulation loop, and the plate heat exchanger is connected in series to the cooling circulation loop of the PEM electrolytic cell and is used for transferring waste heat carried in the cooling circulation water of the PEM electrolytic cell to the heating circulation module. The heating circulation module is used for accurately distributing heat obtained by the heat source collection module to different heating terminal ends. The heating circulation module comprises a circulating water pump, a three-way regulating valve and a heat preservation pipeline, the circulating water pump comprises a first circulating water pump, a second circulating water pump and a third circulating water pump, the first circulating water pump and the second circulating water pump are connected in series to the heat preservation pipelines at the outlet and the inlet of the plate heat exchanger respectively, the third circulating water pump is connected in series to the heat preservation pipeline connected to the outlet of an external radiator, three valve ports of the three-way regulating valve are connected to the heat preservation pipelines connected to the outlet of the plate heat exchanger, the inlet of a container internal heating terminal module and the inlet of the external radiator respectively, the heat preservation pipelines connected to the outlet of the container internal heating terminal module and the outlet of the external radiator are connected to the heat preservation pipeline connected to the inlet of the plate heat exchanger, and a heating circulation loop is formed. The container internal heating terminal module is used for transferring heat in the heating circulation water to the internal space of the container and maintaining the internal environment temperature in a preset range. The intelligent control module comprises a temperature sensor and a controller, the temperature sensor comprises a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor and a third temperature sensor, the first temperature sensor is arranged in the container, the second temperature sensor is arranged at the inlet of the electrolytic cell, and the third temperature sensor is arranged at the connection position of the outlet of the container internal heating terminal module and the external radiator. The controller adopts a PLC, a temperature control algorithm is built in the PLC, a regulation and control instruction is automatically generated by the temperature control algorithm according to the deviation between the real-time temperature fed back by the first temperature sensor and the set temperature, the regulation and control instruction is output to the three-way regulating valve and the circulating water pump according to the size and change trend of the temperature deviation, and the regulation and control instruction controls the opening degree of the three-way regulating valve and the rotating speed of the circulating water pump.

2. The PEM-based water electrolysis hydrogen generation container thermal management system of claim 1, wherein, If there is a local low-temperature area in the container, the container internal heating terminal module adopts a fan-coil unit to rapidly increase the temperature through forced convection. If the space in the container is open, the container internal heating terminal module adopts a coil radiator to uniformly heat through natural convection.

3. The PEM-based water electrolysis hydrogen generation container thermal management system of claim 1, wherein, The plate heat exchanger installed at the water inlet pipeline of the PEM electrolytic cell is a stainless steel plate heat exchanger. If the cooling circulation water contains a trace amount of acidic medium, the plate heat exchanger is a titanium plate heat exchanger.

4. The PEM-based water electrolysis hydrogen generation container thermal management system of claim 1, wherein, The heat preservation pipeline comprises a pipeline body, a heat preservation layer and a galvanized iron sheet protective layer, the heat preservation layer is arranged between the pipeline body and the galvanized iron sheet protective layer, and the thickness of the heat preservation layer is not less than 50 mm. The heat preservation layer comprises one or more of a polyurethane foaming heat preservation layer, a centrifugal glass wool heat preservation layer, a rock wool heat preservation layer and aerogel heat preservation felt.

5. The PEM-based water electrolysis hydrogen generation container thermal management system of claim 1, wherein, The heating circulation module further comprises a solar heat collection branch, which is connected in parallel to the inlet and outlet of the plate heat exchanger; The solar heat collection branch comprises a solar heat collector, an illumination sensor, a fourth circulating water pump and an electric two-way valve; the inlet of the solar heat collector is communicated with the heat preservation pipeline communicated with the inlet of the plate heat exchanger, and the outlet of the solar heat collector is communicated with the heat preservation pipeline communicated with the inlet of the plate heat exchanger; the fourth circulating water pump and the electric two-way valve are further connected in series at the inlet of the solar heat collector, and the electric two-way valve is connected with the controller; a fourth temperature sensor is further arranged at the outlet of the solar heat collector, for monitoring the temperature of the hot water treated by the solar heat collector, the solar heat collector is connected with the illumination sensor, and the illumination sensor is further connected with the controller.

6. The PEM-based water electrolysis hydrogen generation container thermal management system of claim 1, wherein, The heating circulation module further comprises an auxiliary heating branch, which is connected in series between the outlet of the container internal heating terminal module and the external radiator and the inlet of the plate heat exchanger; The auxiliary heating branch comprises an auxiliary heater and a fifth temperature sensor; the fifth temperature sensor is arranged at the outlet of the auxiliary heater, for monitoring the temperature of the hot water heated by the auxiliary heater.

7. The PEM-based water electrolysis hydrogen generation container thermal management system of claim 1, wherein, The heat management system comprises: Start-up preheating mode: when the heat management system is cold-started, the solar heat collector or the auxiliary electric heater is started to preheat, and after the preheating is completed, the system is switched to the normal constant temperature mode; Normal constant temperature mode: the constant temperature is maintained by relying on the waste heat of the PEM electrolytic cell, without auxiliary heating; High-temperature heat dissipation mode: when the environment is high temperature or the heat production is excessive, the external radiator is used for heat dissipation; Standby anti-freezing mode: when the heat management system is stopped and the temperature is low, the minimum water circulation or intermittent start-up heating is maintained to prevent freezing.

8. The PEM-based water electrolysis hydrogen generation container thermal management system of claim 7, wherein, The switching condition of the start-up preheating mode is that the temperature in the container rises to 15℃ and the temperature of the PEM electrolytic cell rises to 30℃; that is, the temperature monitored by the first temperature sensor is 15℃ and the temperature monitored by the first temperature sensor rises to 30℃; The switching condition of the high-temperature heat dissipation mode is that the temperature of the heating circulating water monitored by the third temperature sensor exceeds 70℃; The auxiliary electric heater start-up interval of the standby anti-freezing mode is 30-60 minutes, and each start-up time is 10-15 minutes.

9. The PEM electrolytic water-splitting hydrogen generation container thermal management system of claim 8, wherein, The heat management system is suitable for an environment temperature range of-30℃ to 40℃.

10. A thermal management method for a container used in PEM-based water electrolysis for hydrogen production, characterized in that, The heat management method is suitable for the heat management system of any one of claims 1-9, and the heat management method comprises: (1) Heat collection stage: when the PEM electrolytic cell works, waste heat is generated, the cooling circulating water flows in the cooling circulating loop in the PEM electrolytic cell, the temperature of the cooling circulating water after absorbing the waste heat rises, and then the cooling circulating water flows into the plate heat exchanger; (2) Heat transfer stage: the plate heat exchanger transfers the waste heat in the cooling circulating water to the heating circulation loop, so that the temperature of the water in the heating circulation loop rises; (3) Heat distribution stage: the controller drives the three-way regulating valve to adjust the flow rate ratio of the hot water flowing to the container internal heating terminal and the external radiator according to the deviation of the container internal temperature fed back by the first temperature sensor and the set temperature: If the temperature inside the container is lower than the set value, the three-way regulating valve will guide 80%-100% hot water to the container heating end module to heat the container; if the temperature inside the container reaches the set value and the PEM electrolytic cell generates excessive heat, the three-way regulating valve will guide 50%-90% hot water to the external radiator to discharge the excess heat; (4) The constant temperature maintaining stage: the controller monitors the temperature change sensed by the first sensor in real time, dynamically adjusts the opening degree of the three-way valve and the rotating speed of the circulating pump, and ensures that the temperature inside the container is stable at the first target temperature and the inlet temperature of the PEM electrolytic cell is stable at the second target temperature.

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